Business

6 Questions With Fashion-Forward Designer Kimberly Ovitz

AUSTIN — During New York Fashion Week, womenswear designer Kimberly Ovitz made headlines with her 3D-printed jewelry line, created in collaboration with Shapeways. The edgy and futuristic feel of Ovitz's collection was inspired by her research into insects and animals' natural defense mechanisms and exoskeletons. When it came to producing her line, she figured there was no better way to evoke the future than by using the technology of the future.

We caught up with Ovitz at Mashable House and asked her six burning questions. Read on for her answers.

1. Is it fashionable or unfashionable to wear your startups' t-shirt every day at SXSW?

Listen, I am all about guerrilla advertising any way that you can. So, yes.

2. You made headlines for bringing 3D-printed jewelry to the runway in February — designers have been playing with 3D-printed couture but jewelry is a new one — what made you decide to partner with Shapeways and reinvent the way designer jewelry is created?

I wanted to launch jewelry in a different way than my contemporaries have launched jewelry. I've always been really interested in tech — my brother is in tech and we talk about it a lot. We started talking about Shapeways, and I thought that would be so great. There were people here and there doing pieces with Shapeways, but there wasn't a really a brand doing something with them. So, I got in touch with them and ironically the business development guy went to Brown with me, and it just went from there.

I did it because for me, it wasn't just bringing another jewelry collection to the table, it was revolutionizing the way that fashion comes to the table and the timeline when it can come to the table. Consumer demands are changing, and people want everything at the click of a button and this technology and innovation helps to feed that. People were able to order it off the runway and get it in two weeks after my show, which is kind of unheard of. We used nylon and stainless steel — the nylon is amazingly affordable, which is why I did it. I wanted the line to have an approachable price point.

3. What's your favorite app?

Uber is pretty great.

4. What fashion trends are you selling at SXSW?

Backpacks as hats [that act as umbrellas]. And jeans!

5. Your brother Chris is a co-founder of Viddy — what tech lessons or startup wisdom has he imparted to you?

It's ironic, I started my company before he was at Viddy, and they are very different. He definitely got me into social media, and when Pose came out, he told me that I needed to talk to them because they were blowing up. So he definitely introduced me to the social media realm, and I got more and more interested in it.

6. How do you stay chic in inclement weather? You're doing it so well.

I wear the same thing almost everyday, it's just a variation of it. It's usually a tank top and jeans and boots. I say be you, and that's chic.

Mashable House Day 1

Grumpy Cat at the Mashable House

Photo via Amy E. Price/Getty Images for SXSW

Mashable CEO Pete Cashmore and Internet celeb Scumbag Steve pose for a shot in front of original Mashable "meme art"

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is a leading source for news, information and resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's record 42 million unique visitors worldwide and 21 million social media followers are one of the most influential and engaged online communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.